Germany Denies Reports of Potential F-35 Fighter Jet Purchase Amid French Collaboration Stalemate

On February 19, Reuters reported that inside sources revealed the German government is considering purchasing additional F-35 fighter jets from the United States while their new fighter jet project with France is experiencing problems. However, a German government spokesperson later stated that there are currently no plans to buy additional F-35 jets. "There are no plans and no decision has been made," the spokesperson emphasized. Previously, a source suggested Germany was negotiating a potential purchase of 35 additional F-35 jets, following an initial purchase of 35 aircraft in 2022, with delivery expected by the end of this year. The planned purchase of Lockheed Martin's stealth fighters, priced at over 80 million U.S. dollars per aircraft, comes under pressure from the United States for European allies to increase defense budgets. If Germany proceeds with the purchase, its military would have up to 85 F-35 fighter jets, though sources caution the outcome remains uncertain. The expansion of Germany's F-35 fleet would represent a significant strategic shift towards deeper military integration with the United States and increasing distance from the independent security defense approach of European Union members, a concern for France. Germany and France remain stuck in a stalemate regarding the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project worth 3.6 trillion baht, which has faced numerous challenges since its inception in 2017, with the objective of creating new fighter jets to replace French, German, and Spanish aircraft by 2040.